Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
